Panther G 2022 #15 Build

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Some more work done on the cupola.

Just needs some weld beads adding and touching up with paint along with a couple of small parts and then I can look at sorting out the hatch.

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Work on the cupola and hatch continues with a couple of small parts and welds added and some texture added to the hatch.

[Jae-seung Roe]

Been a bit slow with the build since the last update due to the usual things.

I have sorted out a cupola hatch end stop and also a way to hide the thread of the M6 bolt and keep the hatch fixed open in the right position for when the tank commander is in there.
This sleeve can be removed to shut the hatch down, if required.

Hi Malcolm,
Great detail on hatch stop, is it made of metal block? Also for casted surface is that mr.sufacer 500?
After done most mechanical work, seems that I need to do detail work as well

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Yes, made from a couple of aluminum off cuts.

Mr. Surfacer 500 has been used after first filling in the gap between the two parts with milliput.
I've kept it off the outer edge of the hatch as if not you will have fit issues when coming to close it.

Just a couple of weld beads around the handle to do.

[Malcolm.Plumb]

A bit more work done over the past few days on the turret roof.

As I was concerned that I would not be able to easily get to the nuts inside to secure the roof to the main turret I've epoxied some M3 Flanged nuts to the brackets. That works OK
The mounting for the commander has now been fitted and again I've test fitted the figure.

Unfortunately due to a slight contact with the hatch when he rotates it looks like I will have to disable his torso rotation axis
I had checked and adjusted this several times before painting but it is what it is, as they say.

Quite a lot of time spent to get this far but pretty happy

[Malcolm.Plumb]

A few hours on the build today with work on the gun barrel parts.

Quite prominent tooling marks removed from the barrel parts, clean up of the end fitting for the recoil and a light going over with a scotch pad for the other parts.
Threads were pretty much OK.
The end of the barrel that will be in the Teflon sleeve has been left alone as it is pretty smooth.

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Only a small amount of time spent on the build this past week and continuation with the gun barrel parts.

When fully tightened there a slight misalignment issue with the holes in the muzzle break and the metal end fitting for the gun recoil.
Leaving this would, I think, lead to the barrel rotating slightly leaving the muzzle break no longer visually in the right position.

So I have made up a shim out of aluminum to get both parts squared up when tightened.

This is only 0.8mm thick but works a treat.

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Some pretty poor weather today but still managed to get a little bit of painting done.

The underside only of the turret has been sorted with top coat as not yet ready for the Zimmerit.
I can now get the previously painted bottom plate fitted and out of the way with all work now with the turret the right way up.

Also given the steel end fitting for the recoil a coat of primer and satin black ready to get fitted to the barrel.

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Back to the gun barrel assembly and between the heavy rain showers I've managed to get it assembled and painted.

The muzzle brake was painted in separate parts to make sure no bare metal was left on internal surfaces.
This will be fitted without Loctite after I mount the LED.

[Malcolm.Plumb]

Barrel assembled and the first test fitting of the barrel and turret on to the main chassis on the tank.

Happy with how it went

Ands that's now a convenience place to cover it over and get ready for Friday when I'm going off on holiday to China.

[Robert E Morey]

Looking "lean and mean". Love it.
Perfect build.
Bob